Sound and projection apparatus



Aug. 23, 1938. J. ERWOOD 2,127,590

- SOUND AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Filed Dec. 21, 1936 HIM J. ERWOOD SOUND AND PROJECTION APPARATUS Aug. 23, 1938.

Filed Dec. 21, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mill? Patented Aug. 23, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 4 Claims. (Cl. 88 -28 This invention which relates to an apparatus for the projection of sound and images is concerned primarily with a portable cabinet inwhich the operating units are contained. The apparatus 5 in its entirety is designed to be carried around and set up in various. places, and, consequently,

is small, light, and easily set up for operation. With these objects in mind, the present improvements are directed to a cabinet containing a sound apparatus, a picture projector, a screen on which images may be thrown, and means for framing-and advancing a film'through the projector so that successive images may be exhibited upon the screen. In the accomplishment of these purposes I have provided an apparatus which is inexpensive, simple to produce and use, and also convenient to carry around'and stow away.

In the embodiment of this invention which is shown in ,the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the cabinet; M

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cabinet with one side wall dropped down and the lid partially opened, showing the parts in the interior of the cabinet as they'are arranged for storage there- Fig. 3-is a view in perspective of the cabinet opened up with the several units arranged in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective sectional view of -the sound reproducer pick-up arm within its folding support;

Fig. '5 is a fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale of the mounting within the cabinet for the projector supportingarm; 5 Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail in section taken on line6ofFlg.3;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the forward end of the projector showing the film gate and feeding spool together with a slide film in, operative position;

Fig. 8 is a detail insection on line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig.9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

and I Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the framing mechanism adjusted to another position. The cabinet herein illustrated is in the general form of. a suitcase C having'one side wall (not shown), a narrow front wall II, a, second side wall 12 which is removable, and a rear wall 13. Over the top of the cabinet is fitted another wall in theform of a lid L with depending flanges providing an enclosure over the cabinet'top wall I4. A handle I5 is secured to'the lid, whereby the entire cabinet may be lifted up and be conveniently carried about.

The lid, as, shown, is connected at one end flange by a pair of hinges 20 to the front wall of the cabinet. When fully open the lid will have swung through 180 at which point its end flange to which the hinges are attached will abut the front Wall I .of the cabinet (see Fig. 3) In addition, the opposite end wall and one of the side flanges of the lid each carries a pair of plate-lugs 10 2| adapted to enter socketed fixtures 22 on the corresponding walls of the cabinet. Associated with each such fixture is a spring yoke 23 adapted to swing over the proximate lug whereby to sea cure the lid in closed position. 15

' The side wall I2 is detachably secured to the cabinet bottom 25' as by a pair of leaves 26 secured to the wall adjacent its lower edge, each leaf being formed with a hook 2'! adapted to engage a pin 28 which is supported between a pair 1 of joints 29 carried by a plate which is atlixed to the cabinet bottom. In this manner a hinged connection is provided'permitting the side wall l2 to be swung downwardly to .a horizontal position where it may then disengage from the pins. 25

In its up position, as illustrated'in Fig. 1, these hinged connections are inseparable. 7

Within a cabinet ofv this construction I provide a supporting partition 35 parallel' to the side wall l2 but spaced therefrom to form therewith 30 an enclosure for the accommodation of a turntable T and a projector P. As shown, the. turntable is of a diameter which extends nearly the entire distance between the cabinet front and rear walls and upwardly through a recess to a 35 point beyond its top wall. l4 and into the space below. the enclosing lid. The turntable is held in: place upon a pair of clips 36 which are aflixed to the partition 35. Formed in this partition is an opening 31 which may be covered with a 40 'face of the partition. As part of the sound apparatus I employ a motor driven 'spindle' 38 (see 40 .Fig. 2) projecting through the cabinet topin a position to receive thereon the turntable when mounted as shown in Fig. 3. A reproducer pickup arm 39 of channel formation is swingably mounted -upon' a post 40 carried on the cabinet .-top and provided at its free end with the usual needle for tracking in the grooves of a record which may be positioned upon the turntable. When the turntable is taken oil for vertical positioning as shown in Fig. 2, one wall of the r to the cabinet top. At the time the turntable is set up for rotation, the clip is swung down to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 so as to clear both the pick-up arm and the turntable.

The projector P comprises a lamp housing in whose forward wall 5| is supported a lens 52 in adjacent but spaced relation'to a second lens 53 which is carried in a swinging film gate 54. Between the two lens a slide film F is adapted to be advanced so as to expose to light rays passing throughthe lens the images which are to be successively displayed upon the screen S. In the construction shown, this screen is carried upon the rear face of the side wall 12. Adjacent one edge of the side wall is a hook 55 (see Fig. 6) engageable with a pin 56 supported between aligned joints 51 which are extended from one end of a plate 58 that is affixed to the inner face of the end flange of the lid. By this construction the side wall 12 may be hooked onto the lid, when the latter is in inverted position (see Fig. 3) thereby to be supported vertically for the reception upon the screen of images thrown from the projector. To assist in this support I have provided upon the exterior face of the side wall 1 2 (as viewed in Fig.

- i) a socketed fixture Gll having an associated spring yoke Bl adapted to receive and lock with one of the plate-lugs 2| which is carried on an endfiange of the lid.

The partition wall whichcarries'a speaker upon its rear face may also be detached from thecabinet for mounting at a remote point (see the dotand dash line showing in Fig. 3), .in which to engage within the usual rows'of perforations adjacent opposite edges of the film F. A brake in the form of a leaf spring 61 extends from one wall of the housing to engage with the proximate sprocket wheel. V

For advancing and framing the film, the spool is fitted with a set screw 68 which, when advanced, bears tightly against a sleeve 69 on which the spool is mounted. The .slee'vesurrounds a shaft 10 which extends through bearings formed in opposite walls of the housing. One shaft end II which is reduced in'diameter is. threaded to receive a nut 12 bearing against a spring washer "I3 which abuts the proximate sleeveend. Upon the opposite shaft end, exteriorly of the' housing, is fitted the hub 15 of a driving wheel 16 having a circular flange 11 near its periphery; a ratchet disk 18; a thin washer-I9 of fibre or other appropriate material; and a control disk 8ll-all in the order named. The control disk is slightly recessed upon its'inner face to partly receive the washer,

' space upon the shaft end.

The mounting'of the control disk upon the shaft is fast, whereas that of the ratchet disk is loos e.-

- The sleeve is drivingly secured to the shaft as by a crosspin 85 whose ends lie within slots extending longitudinally of the sleeve adjacent one end thereof which abuts the ratchet disk to establish provided with four teeth spaced 90 apart.

one point the circular flange upon thedriving wheel is interrupted to accommodate a pawl 86 pivoted at 81 to present its acting end against the periphery of the ratchet disk which, as shown, is

Secured to the pawl at 88 is one end of a flexible cord 89 which passes over the back of the pawl, then around an extended portion of the circular flange of the driving wheel, and thence to a point convenient to an operator for manipulation. Each pull of the cord sufficient to rotate the driving wheel a quarter turn produces a likemovement of the ratchet disk and, in consequence, the shaft,

whereby thespool advances the film a distance equal to one exposure. A stop whereby to limit oscillations of the driving wheel to a prescribed range is provided by a tongue 9!! extended outwardlyfromone wall of the housing to lie within an arcuate slot 9i whose length may be just slightly more than 90". At the conclusion of each advance of the driving wheel, release of the pulling cord will permit a spring 92 to return the Wheel to initial position.

Toframe the film the control disk is manually rotated in a direction counter to operating movements of the pawl drive. By such rotation of the control disk. the shaft is turned against the friction imparted by its end against the ratchet disk in response to tension of the spring washer 13 at the opposite shaft end. The net result of this operation is to readjust the'position of the shaft (and film) relative to the ratchet disk.

The projector has a swivel mounting upon one end of an arm I00 at whose other end is affixed a plate IDI. Opposite edges of this plate are adapted to be fitted within offset facing flanges I02, one pair of which.is mounted upon a block )3 within the cabinet. The projector may accordingly be fitted within the cabinet, in the manner shown in Figs. 2-and 5, where it is supported by the sliding fit of the plate IUI between the offsetfianges which furnish a mounting therefor. A similar mounting is provided upon the exterior of the cabinet in a plate I06 from which extends a pair of facing oilset flanges I01 adapted to overlie opposite edges of the same plate IOI. Upon such an exterior mounting the arm may be readily fitted with the projector lying out beyond the proximate end of the cabinet in a position to throw images upon the screen which, when mounted on the -free end of the lid L, is situated beyond the opposite cabinet end a distance substantially equal to twice the cabinet length. It will be noted, therefore, that although the cabinet is small, the operating parts may be accommodated-completely therewithin, yet when removed therefrom, will furnish mountings exteriorly thereof such that the distance between the projector and screen is substantially twice the longest dimension ofthe cabinet.

I claim:

1. A projector apparatus comprising anelongated portable cabinet, a lid on said cabinet, hinge means on the lid and connected to one endof the cabinet and adapted to carry the lid through 180 to an open position where its-free end lies twice the cabinet length from its closed position, means for supporting the lid in such open position, a projector, means for mounting the pro-.

ject'or in one position within the cabinet and in another position exteriorly thereof 'at a point adjacent the cabinet end opposite that whereon the lid is hinged, a screen and means for mounting the screen in one position within the cabinet and in another position upon the lidadjacent its free end whereby to lieremote from the projector a distance substantially twice the long dimension of the cabinet.

2. A projector apparatus comprising an elongated portable cabine't having a removable side wall, alid on said cabinet, hinge means on the lid and connected to one end of the cabinet whereby to swing the lid through to an open po-- sition where its free end lies twice the cabinet length from its closed position, means for supporting the lid in such open position, a projector, means for-mounting the projector in one posi'- tion within the cabinet, and in another position exteriorly thereof at a. point adjacent the cabinet end opposite that whereon the lid is hinged, and means for mounting the cabinet side wall upon the lid end remote from the projector to serve as a screen therefor.

3. A projector apparatus comprising an elongated portable cabinet having a removable side wall, a lid on said cabinet, hinge means on the lid and connected to one end of the cabinet said lidhaving means to secure the removable side wall in place, the lid being adapted to swing through 180 to an open position where its free 'end lies twice the cabinet length from its closed position, means forsupporting the removable cabinet sidewall upon the lid, when in open position. adjacent its free end, one face of the side wall being adapted to serve as a screen,-a

carrying case opposite thewall upon which said cover is hinged, a picture projecting lantern adapted when mounted upon said mounting means to project a picture in the'direction of said cover when said cover is in itsfully opened position, a picture screen forming portion carried by said carrying case independently of said cover when the carrying case is closed, and means for securing said screen forming portion in a ver-' tical position upon said cov'erat aidistance from the projector greater than the largest dimension of said carrying case and in optical alignment with said projector when said cover is fully opened and the apparatus is in operation,

JOSEPH ERWOO 

